In honor of Women's History Month, we're pleased to introduce you to some of the historic women of Shelter Island.
Here's the first story in our series. Meet Dinah Williams.
Here's the first story in our series. Meet Dinah Williams.
The history of this dear Island sheltered by Islands is not just kept in books or even our archives. It lives and breathes all around us, from street signs to the hills we sled down in winter, to the bays, coves, and harbors whose names we know so well, and in the shared language of our community. One could read a map of Shelter Island like a history book and be greeted by the legacies of so many Islanders. Of course, like so much of history, the names on our map are often those of prominent white wealthy families. But among the names that have been immortalized on our Island's geography is one of a Black woman who was born into slavery, later purchased her freedom, and left a legacy of her own. Her name was Dinah.
After twenty-five years as a slave to the Terry family in Orient, Dinah (also recorded as Diana and Dianna) saved enough money to purchase her freedom. She married Thomas R. Williams, a Black mariner, and took his name.
Dinah’s father is believed to be a man known only as Crank, a free Black man, who established himself "as a manufacturer of salt from salt water by boiling it at Shelter Island in the Revolutionary War." His wife, Flora (Florah), created a name for herself as a highly sought after nurse.
Like her parents, Dinah became well-known and liked in the community. After her husband's death in 1816, she bought property on the northern tip of the island and was listed as a head of household in the 1820 and 1830 Shelter Island censuses.
Perhaps her father passed on his entrepreneurial spirit because, although there were no “regular” stores on the Island at the time, Dinah supported herself by operating a small business selling “light groceries” such as tea and sugar.
But it was Dinah’s endearing habit of sitting on a flat rock just off the shore of her property to clean fish which has allowed her name to live on for over 200 years. Local sailors and fishermen became so accustomed to seeing Dinah on this rock working peacefully and waving kindly that it was coined “Dinah’s Rock.”
Dinah was a member of the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church and Columbian Temperance Society. She was known for her gentle and caring nature and, like her mother, also worked as a nurse, as evidenced by a receipt from 1835.
According to the records of the Presbyterian Church, Dinah passed away in 1837, age unknown. Upon her death a “comfortable Dwelling House, Wood House, together with about 3 1/2 acres of land, in the town of Shelter Island, in good repair" was auctioned off. Their exact location remains unknown and none of these structures stand today. But Dinah’s Rock, just off Hay Beach, remains.
Many years after Dinah’s death, in 1873, a man named Eben Horseford bought what had been her property, and opened a pleasure area he called “Dinah’s Rock,” complete with a large pier and carousel that attracted tourists and locals alike.
Today, Dinah's name can be found on street signs that cut through the edge of Gardiners Bay Country Club, not far from her famed rock. There is still so much we do not know about Dinah’s life and probably never will. Dinah Williams was a Black woman in the early nineteenth century, born a slave, and like countless other people of color, likely experienced discrimination, disenfranchisement, and the worst our society had to offer at the time. But there is so much more to her story. Like so many Shelter Islanders today, she was also a business owner, a caregiver, and an active member of community organizations. In another 200 years, Dinah’s name may not bless the same street signs, but we hope to preserve the legacy of her kind, hardworking spirit in our archives for generations to come.
After twenty-five years as a slave to the Terry family in Orient, Dinah (also recorded as Diana and Dianna) saved enough money to purchase her freedom. She married Thomas R. Williams, a Black mariner, and took his name.
Dinah’s father is believed to be a man known only as Crank, a free Black man, who established himself "as a manufacturer of salt from salt water by boiling it at Shelter Island in the Revolutionary War." His wife, Flora (Florah), created a name for herself as a highly sought after nurse.
Like her parents, Dinah became well-known and liked in the community. After her husband's death in 1816, she bought property on the northern tip of the island and was listed as a head of household in the 1820 and 1830 Shelter Island censuses.
Perhaps her father passed on his entrepreneurial spirit because, although there were no “regular” stores on the Island at the time, Dinah supported herself by operating a small business selling “light groceries” such as tea and sugar.
But it was Dinah’s endearing habit of sitting on a flat rock just off the shore of her property to clean fish which has allowed her name to live on for over 200 years. Local sailors and fishermen became so accustomed to seeing Dinah on this rock working peacefully and waving kindly that it was coined “Dinah’s Rock.”
Dinah was a member of the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church and Columbian Temperance Society. She was known for her gentle and caring nature and, like her mother, also worked as a nurse, as evidenced by a receipt from 1835.
According to the records of the Presbyterian Church, Dinah passed away in 1837, age unknown. Upon her death a “comfortable Dwelling House, Wood House, together with about 3 1/2 acres of land, in the town of Shelter Island, in good repair" was auctioned off. Their exact location remains unknown and none of these structures stand today. But Dinah’s Rock, just off Hay Beach, remains.
Many years after Dinah’s death, in 1873, a man named Eben Horseford bought what had been her property, and opened a pleasure area he called “Dinah’s Rock,” complete with a large pier and carousel that attracted tourists and locals alike.
Today, Dinah's name can be found on street signs that cut through the edge of Gardiners Bay Country Club, not far from her famed rock. There is still so much we do not know about Dinah’s life and probably never will. Dinah Williams was a Black woman in the early nineteenth century, born a slave, and like countless other people of color, likely experienced discrimination, disenfranchisement, and the worst our society had to offer at the time. But there is so much more to her story. Like so many Shelter Islanders today, she was also a business owner, a caregiver, and an active member of community organizations. In another 200 years, Dinah’s name may not bless the same street signs, but we hope to preserve the legacy of her kind, hardworking spirit in our archives for generations to come.
The Women Who Created Our Bicentennial Quilt
As we explore our Museum collection for stories to share about the women of Shelter Island, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the wealth of possibilities. This town has been, and continues to be, shaped by strong, caring, intelligent, and creative women—each with a powerful story of her own.
Yet, one piece in our collection stands out, bringing together women and families from across our Island and throughout its history. It’s a story so rich, it cannot wait another moment to be told.
In 1976, fifty-five Shelter Island women presented Havens House with a remarkable gift in honor of the nation's Bicentennial. (Anyone who has ever tried organizing dinner for just five people knows what a feat this must have been!) Their gift was a quilt—designed and stitched by more than a hundred careful and loving hands. Like a textile time capsule, it captures the Island as seen through the eyes of these women, preserving thirty landmarks and cherished memories. They were caregivers, business owners, artists, historians, mothers, daughters, and friends—woven together through the act of creation.
Beyond the quilt itself and a souvenir program from the town’s 1976 Bicentennial celebrations, little is known about its making. How long did it take? Was it difficult to choose which images to include? Where did the idea originate? Yet, even without all the details, the quilt commands attention. Like all handmade heirlooms, it carries an unspoken essence—of comfort, love, care, family, and community—stitched into its very fabric. Nearly half a century later, it still speaks for itself.
Here, we let it do just that. Above are photographs of the quilt, alongside acknowledgments of the women who created it.
As our nation approaches its semiquincentennial next year, this piece serves as a reminder that women have always been at the heart of Shelter Island’s history. From the creation of this quilt to the founding of the Historical Society—now History Museum—to the stories passed down for generations by grandmothers and neighbors, their legacy endures. May these women inspire us all to be stewards of our community’s history—even with the smallest stitch.
Yet, one piece in our collection stands out, bringing together women and families from across our Island and throughout its history. It’s a story so rich, it cannot wait another moment to be told.
In 1976, fifty-five Shelter Island women presented Havens House with a remarkable gift in honor of the nation's Bicentennial. (Anyone who has ever tried organizing dinner for just five people knows what a feat this must have been!) Their gift was a quilt—designed and stitched by more than a hundred careful and loving hands. Like a textile time capsule, it captures the Island as seen through the eyes of these women, preserving thirty landmarks and cherished memories. They were caregivers, business owners, artists, historians, mothers, daughters, and friends—woven together through the act of creation.
Beyond the quilt itself and a souvenir program from the town’s 1976 Bicentennial celebrations, little is known about its making. How long did it take? Was it difficult to choose which images to include? Where did the idea originate? Yet, even without all the details, the quilt commands attention. Like all handmade heirlooms, it carries an unspoken essence—of comfort, love, care, family, and community—stitched into its very fabric. Nearly half a century later, it still speaks for itself.
Here, we let it do just that. Above are photographs of the quilt, alongside acknowledgments of the women who created it.
As our nation approaches its semiquincentennial next year, this piece serves as a reminder that women have always been at the heart of Shelter Island’s history. From the creation of this quilt to the founding of the Historical Society—now History Museum—to the stories passed down for generations by grandmothers and neighbors, their legacy endures. May these women inspire us all to be stewards of our community’s history—even with the smallest stitch.
Societies, Secretaries, and a Magic Carpet
Shelter Island is often described as sleepy—but those who live here know better. Our community has always been active, as evidenced by the rows upon rows of our archive vaults dedicated to local clubs, societies, and organizations. Islanders have been forming groups to create change, manage local resources, and foster community since our earliest days. Organizations like the Daughters of the American Revolution, the League of Women Voters, and the Garden Club are just a few examples of the many women-led groups that have shaped our history. This week, we celebrate the power of women organizing by looking back at one of the earliest examples in our archives: the Women’s Missionary Society of the Shelter Island Presbyterian Church.
With roots stretching back centuries, the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Society once had branches across the nation. However, two of the earliest artifacts in this collection seem to contradict each other about when the Shelter Island chapter was founded. One points to the fall of 1891 and another to 1896. The first entry in the latter source, written by Mrs. G.R. Havens, tells us that on October 20th, 1896 a group of women unanimously voted to organize the Women's Missionary Society— and it seems the rest is history.
As we continue flipping through these more than a century old pages we come across the Constitution of the Women's Missionary Society written by its earliest members in 1896.
You’ll probably recognize some familiar member names on these pages...
As hoped, the Society made local, national and global impacts. Its sewing group crafted hospital gowns and linens for medical centers in need, including hospitals in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. They provided support for a School of Nursing and Advanced Medical Program in Thailand and contributed to the Baghdad School for Girls.
In the years before AI meeting summaries and Zoom recordings, organizations of all sizes relied on the labor of secretaries to keep diligent minutes and records. Often overlooked, these women became the unintentional historians of their time. Thanks to the meticulous work of the Women’s Missionary Society’s secretaries, our collection preserves over sixty years of its membership and activities.
One such woman was Ingrid McBrian, who served as the Society’s secretary from 1951-1954 and remained a member for many years. In a delicate, flowing script, she chronicled each meeting, leaving behind a detailed record of the Society’s efforts. Ingrid was one of the original members of Montclair Colony—as well as a gifted artist. A painter, draftsman, and renowned weaver, she transformed recycled materials into stunning rugs.
One of her rugs is entitled “One World” and perfectly represents the border-crossing compassion behind the charitable work done by community organizations like the Women’s Missionary Society. The 135-square-foot masterpiece highlights notable scenes from around the globe, including the pyramids of Egypt and the United Nations building in New York.
The “One World” rug was exhibited across Long Island and, according to a 1958 newspaper clipping, was the “hit” of the Women’s International Exposition in Manhattan. Furthering the message of her work, Ingrid often dedicated earnings from her various exhibitions to local organizations like the public library, the Dorcas Society, and, yes, to the Women's Missionary Society.
Shelter Island has always been alive with the creativity of local artists, the hum of hardworking organizations, and the extraordinary actions of so-called ordinary people. There is wonder to be found in ordinary things—the humble work of women gathering to help those in need, the meticulous notes of a secretary that allow us to glimpse the past, or a scrap of fabric, once destined for a landfill, carefully woven into something beautiful.
With roots stretching back centuries, the Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Society once had branches across the nation. However, two of the earliest artifacts in this collection seem to contradict each other about when the Shelter Island chapter was founded. One points to the fall of 1891 and another to 1896. The first entry in the latter source, written by Mrs. G.R. Havens, tells us that on October 20th, 1896 a group of women unanimously voted to organize the Women's Missionary Society— and it seems the rest is history.
As we continue flipping through these more than a century old pages we come across the Constitution of the Women's Missionary Society written by its earliest members in 1896.
You’ll probably recognize some familiar member names on these pages...
As hoped, the Society made local, national and global impacts. Its sewing group crafted hospital gowns and linens for medical centers in need, including hospitals in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. They provided support for a School of Nursing and Advanced Medical Program in Thailand and contributed to the Baghdad School for Girls.
In the years before AI meeting summaries and Zoom recordings, organizations of all sizes relied on the labor of secretaries to keep diligent minutes and records. Often overlooked, these women became the unintentional historians of their time. Thanks to the meticulous work of the Women’s Missionary Society’s secretaries, our collection preserves over sixty years of its membership and activities.
One such woman was Ingrid McBrian, who served as the Society’s secretary from 1951-1954 and remained a member for many years. In a delicate, flowing script, she chronicled each meeting, leaving behind a detailed record of the Society’s efforts. Ingrid was one of the original members of Montclair Colony—as well as a gifted artist. A painter, draftsman, and renowned weaver, she transformed recycled materials into stunning rugs.
One of her rugs is entitled “One World” and perfectly represents the border-crossing compassion behind the charitable work done by community organizations like the Women’s Missionary Society. The 135-square-foot masterpiece highlights notable scenes from around the globe, including the pyramids of Egypt and the United Nations building in New York.
The “One World” rug was exhibited across Long Island and, according to a 1958 newspaper clipping, was the “hit” of the Women’s International Exposition in Manhattan. Furthering the message of her work, Ingrid often dedicated earnings from her various exhibitions to local organizations like the public library, the Dorcas Society, and, yes, to the Women's Missionary Society.
Shelter Island has always been alive with the creativity of local artists, the hum of hardworking organizations, and the extraordinary actions of so-called ordinary people. There is wonder to be found in ordinary things—the humble work of women gathering to help those in need, the meticulous notes of a secretary that allow us to glimpse the past, or a scrap of fabric, once destined for a landfill, carefully woven into something beautiful.
Patricia Shillingburg
For centuries, the official historical record has been dominated by men and their voices. Women's stories, achievements, and lives were rarely recognized or given credit. Consequently, their narratives were preserved in diaries, personal letters, and oral histories, seldom receiving public attention. Over the last century, we have seen a significant rise in female authorship. In 1960, only 18 percent of the new book market was authored by women; today, that figure has risen to over 50 percent. Despite this impressive increase, there remains a significant lack of women’s perspectives in the historical genre. In 2017, the National Women's History Museum conducted a study of K-12 educational standards across all 50 states and found that out of 737 specific historical figures mentioned, only 178 were women. A 2016 study further revealed that 75.8 percent of popular history titles published in the U.S. were written by men.
This week, in our final chronicle of Women’s History Month, we celebrate a woman who published 15 books in her lifetime and was determined to set the record straight. Patricia Shillingburg was a passionate local historian who worked to amplify voices that our society so often overlooked. She dedicated 15 years of her life to supporting the Shelter Island History Museum through research, preservation, and storytelling.
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Patricia was born in 1943 in Summit, New Jersey, but her mother’s family, the Mosers, had been present on Shelter Island since the late 1870s. A fearless and driven historian, she majored in Russian history and traveled to the Soviet Union in the 1960s. She met her husband, Ed, on a blind date in Washington, D.C., and the two married in 1967. In the 70s, Patricia embraced the personal computer and became a self-taught expert in using Adobe publishing and graphics programs to self-publish. She advocated for the value in these technological skills and wrote her first books in the 1980s to help others learn them as well. After raising a family and building an impressive career advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities, Patricia and Ed moved to Shelter Island full-time in 1999. Patricia became an active community member and was well known for her work with The Garden Club and on the Town Zoning Board of Appeals.
Patricia continued writing until her passing in 2016. The majority of her works focused on Shelter Island, particularly the Nicolls and Dering Families and their massive letter collections held by the Shelter Island History Museum. In the process of reading and transcribing these letters, Patricia was introduced to the Nicolls and Dering women. Recognizing the critical need to document women’s voices in colonial history, Patricia and Ed drew on these collections to produce Collected Letters of Charlotte Anne Nicoll 1820-1888 (2011) and Women's Words: The Dering Letters 1734-1838 (2015) as well as others. The latter features 227 letters written by 37 women and girls spanning over four generations of the Dering Family.
Patricia came to know these women, particularly the Nicolls, intimately through their letters, which captured conversations between spouses, mothers and daughters, sisters, and cousins. These correspondences provided a portal into their lives, making it feel as though Patricia was living their experiences alongside them.
There is something truly intimate about historical research into people who are no longer living. When the only source material available is their letters and journals, we gain access to their private conversations, personal struggles, and moments of joy. In this way, they begin to seem as alive as you and I. Our executive director, Nanette, recalls how Patricia spoke of these women and their families as if they were friends she had just run into at the post office. This is what makes historical research and writing so compelling: the potential to discover a connection between yourself and someone you’ve never met who lived in a vastly different time. In Patricia’s own words, each letter “tells a story of struggle, sadness, amusement, or joy. Some will make you laugh, others will make you weep. All are memorable” (2015).
Patricia Shillingburg is dearly missed, and it is thanks to her dedication and passion for Shelter Island’s history that these women’s words—and the memories of so many other notable Islanders—will live on. The world continues to suffer from a lack of women’s voices being heard, respected, and preserved. As Women’s History Month comes to a close, may we all continue to take time to appreciate the women in our lives, listen to their stories, and ensure they are remembered.
This month, our research and writing about women from the archives have taken us to unexpected but memorable places and people. We hope these stories have deepened your connection to Shelter Island’s history and to the remarkable women who have helped shape it.
This week, in our final chronicle of Women’s History Month, we celebrate a woman who published 15 books in her lifetime and was determined to set the record straight. Patricia Shillingburg was a passionate local historian who worked to amplify voices that our society so often overlooked. She dedicated 15 years of her life to supporting the Shelter Island History Museum through research, preservation, and storytelling.
.
Patricia was born in 1943 in Summit, New Jersey, but her mother’s family, the Mosers, had been present on Shelter Island since the late 1870s. A fearless and driven historian, she majored in Russian history and traveled to the Soviet Union in the 1960s. She met her husband, Ed, on a blind date in Washington, D.C., and the two married in 1967. In the 70s, Patricia embraced the personal computer and became a self-taught expert in using Adobe publishing and graphics programs to self-publish. She advocated for the value in these technological skills and wrote her first books in the 1980s to help others learn them as well. After raising a family and building an impressive career advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities, Patricia and Ed moved to Shelter Island full-time in 1999. Patricia became an active community member and was well known for her work with The Garden Club and on the Town Zoning Board of Appeals.
Patricia continued writing until her passing in 2016. The majority of her works focused on Shelter Island, particularly the Nicolls and Dering Families and their massive letter collections held by the Shelter Island History Museum. In the process of reading and transcribing these letters, Patricia was introduced to the Nicolls and Dering women. Recognizing the critical need to document women’s voices in colonial history, Patricia and Ed drew on these collections to produce Collected Letters of Charlotte Anne Nicoll 1820-1888 (2011) and Women's Words: The Dering Letters 1734-1838 (2015) as well as others. The latter features 227 letters written by 37 women and girls spanning over four generations of the Dering Family.
Patricia came to know these women, particularly the Nicolls, intimately through their letters, which captured conversations between spouses, mothers and daughters, sisters, and cousins. These correspondences provided a portal into their lives, making it feel as though Patricia was living their experiences alongside them.
There is something truly intimate about historical research into people who are no longer living. When the only source material available is their letters and journals, we gain access to their private conversations, personal struggles, and moments of joy. In this way, they begin to seem as alive as you and I. Our executive director, Nanette, recalls how Patricia spoke of these women and their families as if they were friends she had just run into at the post office. This is what makes historical research and writing so compelling: the potential to discover a connection between yourself and someone you’ve never met who lived in a vastly different time. In Patricia’s own words, each letter “tells a story of struggle, sadness, amusement, or joy. Some will make you laugh, others will make you weep. All are memorable” (2015).
Patricia Shillingburg is dearly missed, and it is thanks to her dedication and passion for Shelter Island’s history that these women’s words—and the memories of so many other notable Islanders—will live on. The world continues to suffer from a lack of women’s voices being heard, respected, and preserved. As Women’s History Month comes to a close, may we all continue to take time to appreciate the women in our lives, listen to their stories, and ensure they are remembered.
This month, our research and writing about women from the archives have taken us to unexpected but memorable places and people. We hope these stories have deepened your connection to Shelter Island’s history and to the remarkable women who have helped shape it.